Markus Blanka-Graff to succeed Gerard van Kesteren in the CFO position

The Board of Directors of Kuehne + Nagel International AG has announced the appointment of Markus Blanka-Graff (46) to the position of Chief Financial Officer. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Board today, with the appointment taking effect on July 1, 2014, the date on which his predecessor, Gerard van Kesteren, will retire after 25 years service with the company.

Karl Gernandt, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuehne + Nagel International AG, said: “I am delighted by this decision. Not only does Markus Blanka-Graff bring an excellent track record of financial and controlling expertise to his new role as CFO and member of the Kuehne + Nagel Management Board, but also many years’ experience driving our strategies forward as a manager within the company, a background that will substantially support the achievement of our corporate goals. Drawing on experience in all areas and with all processes of finance and controlling will enable Markus Blanka-Graff to make a significant and positive contribution to increasing yield potential as well as safeguard our high standards in this area in the future.”

Markus Blanka-Graff was born in Austria, and after studying economics began his career in 1996 at the Kuehne + Nagel subsidiary in Vienna. Over the past 17 years, he has held various finance management positions in Asia, Europe, North America and on Corporate level and gained valuable management experience, amongst others in integrating acquired companies and standardising global finance and controlling processes.Since 2009 he has been based at the headquarters of the Kuehne + Nagel Group in Schindellegi, first as Head of Corporate Accounting and since 2012 as Director of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations.